Power management for wireless devices

• US 9,635,152 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2015
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ma, Dung, Gerg, James B., Lee, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsieh, Ping
• Application Number:
  US14/826,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20150357850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 455571, 455572, 455573, 455574, 4551271, 4551272, 4551273, 4551274, 4551275, 4553431, 4553432, 4553433, 4553435, 4553436, 307 46, 307 48, 307 49, 307 66, 320149, 320112, 320106
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/74 Manipulators with manual electric input means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08

Abstract

A method and apparatus for wireless device power management is provided. The method comprises providing a charge to an intermediate power cell by electrically connecting the intermediate power cell to a power source, disconnecting the intermediate power cell from the power source, and electrically connecting the wireless device to the intermediate power cell. Such electrical connecting enables power cell recharging within the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for managing power for a wireless medical device, comprising:

charging an intermediate power cell by electrically connecting the intermediate power cell to a power source;

disconnecting the intermediate power cell from the power source; and

electrically connecting the wireless medical device to the intermediate power cell by physically attaching the wireless medical device to a charging carrier, wherein the electrically connecting enables recharging of a power cell within the wireless medical device;

wherein said charging the intermediate power cell, disconnecting the intermediate power cell from the power source, and electrically connecting the wireless medical device to the intermediate power cell to recharge the power cell within the wireless medical device facilitates a continuous supply of available power to the wireless medical device, thereby allowing repeated operation of the wireless medical device to control at least one medical procedure via wireless signal transmissions from the wireless medical device, said wireless medical device comprising a footpedal component.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring status of at least one device power cell contained in the wireless medical device;

reporting status of one or more power cells, said reporting indicating current device power cell condition; and

alerting a user when advisable to recharge the device power cells in the wireless medical device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein reporting comprises providing at least one of a

visible signal and an audible signal informing a user of power cell status.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein reporting comprises providing at least one of a visible signal and an audible signal informing a user that power cells require recharging.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless medical device is configured to manage power by reducing wireless signal transmissions from the wireless medical device during inactive periods.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein charging the intermediate power cell comprises controlling current to flow from the power source through a controller to the intermediate power cell.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein electrically connecting the wireless medical device to the intermediate power cell enables the power cell to inductively transfer current using a charge controller to the wireless medical device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein power is managed in the wireless medical device by reducing wireless signal transmissions from the wireless medical device during inactive periods.

9. A power management system, comprising:

a base unit comprising an intermediate power cell; and

a wireless medical device comprising at least one power cell;

wherein the base unit and intermediate power cell are connectable to a power source, and at least one power cell of the wireless medical device is configured to be recharged by the intermediate power cell when the base unit is disconnected from the power source, thereby facilitating a continuous supply of available power to the wireless medical device, and thereby allowing repeated operation of the wireless medical device to control a medical procedure via wireless signal transmissions from the wireless medical device, said wireless medical device comprising a footpedal component.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the base unit further comprises a charging cradle, and the wireless medical device fits within the charging cradle to recharge power cells within the wireless medical device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said charging cradle further comprises a primary inductive coupler and a fixed alternating current power source.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the base unit further comprises a communications network, and the wireless medical device further comprises a transmitter capable of transmitting information receivable by the communications network.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said power cells are rechargeable.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said communications network employs a wireless communications protocol enabling a plurality of observed power management parameters to be transmitted between the wireless medical device and the base unit.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the medical device is configured to manage power by reducing wireless signal transmissions from the wireless medical device during inactive periods.

16. A wireless medical device power management system, comprising:

a base unit comprising an intermediate power cell; and

a wireless medical device comprising at least one power cell and further comprising a footpedal component;

wherein the base unit and intermediate power cell are connectable to a power source, and at least one power cell of the wireless medical device is configured to be recharged by the intermediate power cell when the base unit is disconnected from the power source, thereby facilitating a continuous supply of available power to the wireless medical device, and thereby allowing repeated operation of the wireless medical device to control wireless signal transmissions from the wireless medical device to a controller.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the base unit further comprises a charging cradle, and the wireless medical device fits within the charging cradle to recharge power cells within the wireless medical device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the base unit further comprises a communications network, and the wireless medical device further comprises a transmitter capable of transmitting information receivable by the communications network.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said power cells are rechargeable.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said charging cradle further comprises a primary inductive coupler and a fixed alternating current power source.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein said communications network employs a wireless communications protocol enabling a plurality of observed power management parameters to be transmitted between the wireless medical device and the base unit.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the wireless medical device manages power by reducing wireless signal transmissions from the wireless medical device during inactive periods.